FINALS WATCH: Louisville rally, Hot shooting

Louisville guard Russ Smith (2) and Michigan guard Nik Stauskas (11) work for a loose ball during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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Louisville guard Russ Smith (2) and Michigan guard Nik Stauskas (11) work for a loose ball during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
/ AP

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino calls a play against Wichita State during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game Saturday, April 6, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)— AP

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino calls a play against Wichita State during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game Saturday, April 6, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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Louisville fans hold signs for guard Russ Smith while the team warms up on the court for the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against Michigan, Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Curtis Compton) MARIETTA DAILY OUT; GWINNETT DAILY POST OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; WXIA-TV OUT; WGCL-TV OUT— AP

Louisville fans hold signs for guard Russ Smith while the team warms up on the court for the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against Michigan, Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Curtis Compton) MARIETTA DAILY OUT; GWINNETT DAILY POST OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; WXIA-TV OUT; WGCL-TV OUT
/ AP

In this photo made with a fish-eye lens, Louisville fan Tara Pierce, 19, holds a over-sized photo of Louisville guard Kevin Ware before the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)— AP

In this photo made with a fish-eye lens, Louisville fan Tara Pierce, 19, holds a over-sized photo of Louisville guard Kevin Ware before the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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A Michigan fan holds signage showing Michigan head coach John Beilein before the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against the Louisville, Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)— AP

A Michigan fan holds signage showing Michigan head coach John Beilein before the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against the Louisville, Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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FILE - In this Dec, 10, 2012, file photo, boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr., watches an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks in Miami. Mayweather Jr. won't know until halftime which team he'll pick to win the national basketball championship. Once the undefeated boxing champion figures it out, he is expecting to place a $50,000 bet toward either Michigan or Louisville in the NCAA college basketball title game on Monday night, April 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)— AP

FILE - In this Dec, 10, 2012, file photo, boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr., watches an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks in Miami. Mayweather Jr. won't know until halftime which team he'll pick to win the national basketball championship. Once the undefeated boxing champion figures it out, he is expecting to place a $50,000 bet toward either Michigan or Louisville in the NCAA college basketball title game on Monday night, April 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)
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Charles Dawson of Lithonia, Ga., takes photos of his grandchildren Christopher Wilder, 10, Justin Baxter, 13, second from right, and Cornelius Dawson, right, pose for a picture in front of the Georgia Dome during NCAA Final Four basketball festivities, Sunday, April 7, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)— AP

Charles Dawson of Lithonia, Ga., takes photos of his grandchildren Christopher Wilder, 10, Justin Baxter, 13, second from right, and Cornelius Dawson, right, pose for a picture in front of the Georgia Dome during NCAA Final Four basketball festivities, Sunday, April 7, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
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FILE - In this April 5, 2010, file photo, county music singer Travis Tritt sings the national anthem before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs in Atlanta. Tritt will perform the national anthem prior to the NCAA Final Four college basketball championship game between Michigan and Louisville on Monday night, April 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Rich Addicks, File)— AP

FILE - In this April 5, 2010, file photo, county music singer Travis Tritt sings the national anthem before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs in Atlanta. Tritt will perform the national anthem prior to the NCAA Final Four college basketball championship game between Michigan and Louisville on Monday night, April 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Rich Addicks, File)
/ AP

Venus Williams reacts to a call during a semifinal match against her sister Serena Williams at the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament in Charleston, S.C., Saturday, April 6, 2013. Serena won 6-1, 6-2. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)— AP

Venus Williams reacts to a call during a semifinal match against her sister Serena Williams at the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament in Charleston, S.C., Saturday, April 6, 2013. Serena won 6-1, 6-2. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
/ AP

Louisville guard Peyton Siva sits on the floor as Michigan players warm up during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)— AP

Louisville guard Peyton Siva sits on the floor as Michigan players warm up during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Michigan players huddle before the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against the Louisville, Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)— AP

Michigan players huddle before the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against the Louisville, Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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Michigan guard Trey Burke (3) shoots against Louisville center Gorgui Dieng (10) during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)— AP

Michigan guard Trey Burke (3) shoots against Louisville center Gorgui Dieng (10) during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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Michigan guard Spike Albrecht (2) reacts against the Louisville during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)— AP

Michigan guard Spike Albrecht (2) reacts against the Louisville during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Louisville guard/forward Luke Hancock (11) reacts to play against the Michigan during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)— AP

Louisville guard/forward Luke Hancock (11) reacts to play against the Michigan during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
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Michigan and Louisville aren't having any trouble. The teams combined to start the second half 5 of 6 from the field.

The Wolverines took a 38-37 lead into halftime Monday night thanks in part to shooting 50 percent from the field, and 6 of 11 from beyond the arc. Spike Albrecht helped, of course, with his 6-for-7 half and by going 4 for 4 from deep.

The Cardinals aren't doing shabby, either. They were hitting at a 46-percent clip and were 5 of 8 from beyond the arc, led by a 4-for-4 effort from Luke Hancock.

There's long been a belief that shooting in domes is more difficult because depth perception is thrown off by the spacious surroundings. That hasn't been the case tonight.

Michigan played most of the first half without AP player of the year Trey Burke, who was mired in foul trouble. He scored the Wolverines' first seven points, but picked up two fouls and ended up only playing six minutes in the first half.

No worry, though. Backup guard Spike Albrecht scored 17 in the first half for the Wolverines.

Fouls could play a role down the stretch.

Nik Stauskas also had two first-half fouls for Michigan, while the Cardinals' Wayne Blackshear, Luke Hancock and Russ Smith each have two fouls.

Speaking of stars gone missing, Smith was just 1 for 9 in the first half for Louisville.

- Dave Skretta

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HALFTIME - MICHIGAN LEADING

It's halftime at the national championship game and Michigan is 20 minutes away from only its second national championship.